FINAL WEHI Wednesday Seminar hosted by Professor Ivo Mueller
 

Dr Emily Eriksson
Senior Research Officer – Mueller Laboratory, Population Health & Immunity division – Healthy Development & Ageing Theme, WEHI

Long COVID: Deciphering post-infection and vaccine immune responses

 

Davis Auditorium

Join via SLIDO enter code #WEHIWednesday

Including Q&A session

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has had a profound global impact, leading to millions of infections and deaths, economic instability and overwhelmed healthcare systems. While many people recover from COVID-19 within a few weeks, some continue to experience a range of symptoms long after the initial infection has resolved. This condition is known as Long COVID or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). The impacts of Long COVID are significant, affecting not just physical health but also mental health and overall well-being. For many, these ongoing symptoms can disrupt daily life, work, and relationships. While there are theories that Long COVID is associated with immune dysregulation, viral persistence or re-activation, the exact pathophysiology of Long COVID remains insufficiently understood. Insight into understanding Long COVID biology is therefore key to improve long-term healthcare planning, development of accurate diagnostic approaches and facilitate optimal treatment strategies.
 

During the early stages of the pandemic the COVID PROFILE clinical study was launched to fill an important need to provide COVID immunological data in a local context. Emily was instrumental in conducting the groundwork necessary for the successful establishment of the COVID PROFILE cohort study. She also continued to co-direct this cohort which has followed COVID recovered individuals, household contacts and COVID naïve community members for up to 2 ½ years including sample collections before and after vaccination, boosters and breakthrough infections. Of the SARS-CoV-2 recovered participants, >30% were classified as Long COVID sufferers where at least one symptom had been experienced for  >12 weeks. Using this resource, Emily and the team has investigated diverse aspects of immune responses within these participants. In this seminar, Emily will specifically cover differences in the immune responses to infection and vaccination that set apart individuals experiencing Long COVID.
 

All welcome!